4 Ways You Can Motivate Your Team to Do Better Work
2018-04-07 04:28:13 PM
4 Ways You Can Motivate Your Team to Do Better Work
1. Exude a Positive Attitude
There’s a wealth of research out there about the benefits of an optimistic attitude for effective leadership.
You probably didn’t need science to tell you that—after all, it makes
sense that someone who’s upbeat would be a lot more exciting to be
around compared to someone who’s always complaining.
So, make a concerted effort on a regular basis to be supportive, gracious, and optimistic.
For example, when you disagree with your direct report, don’t just
shoot their idea down—instead, respect their opinion and strive to find
common ground. When problems arise, focus on what you can fix rather
than lamenting about all the things you can’t. Try to stay positive in
everything you do, and your can-do spirit will be contagious.
2. Get to Know Your Direct Reports on a Human Level
Energizing leaders don’t just tell people what to do—they focus on
cultivating strong, two-way relationships with the people they work
with. They take a genuine interest in others’ emotions, concerns, and
happiness, and aim to be fully present when talking with them (a.k.a.,
they care about how they communicate.)
Most importantly, they know
how to show a bit of vulnerability—because they know that being honest,
realistic, and accountable for their actions forces others to do the
same.
3. Share Your Passion With Your Team
Have you ever
had a boss who was simply going through the motions without much care
for anything they did? It was probably an uphill battle to be productive
when your leader wasn’t pulling their weight and showing enthusiasm for
their role.
Researchers in their study found that leaders who
showed passion for their work were more motivating and energizing to be
around.
So, aim to get in touch with what makes your job meaningful
to you. Then, communicate this excitement with your employees by sharing
your personal goals, projects you’re eager to work on, or the mission
you, your department, or your company stands for. The more transparent
you are with the “why” behind everything you do, the more likely people
will be convinced to get excited and involved.
4. Make Learning a Priority
The study also shows that energizing leaders create environments
that’re intellectually stimulating. This means sharing your knowledge
and experience with your team and being open to learning from others and
receiving feedback.
This also means encouraging open dialogue,
creativity, and the questioning of assumptions. A team that engages in
frequent, honest conversations is also likely to generate higher quality
solutions to problems, since they’ll be able to truly benefit from and
factor in all of the individual perspectives.
